Now aged 53, Jason Moore, an affluent individual who made his fortune through betting on cricket matches, was previously served a prison sentence linked to the alleged murder of Robert Darby back in 2013. Sentenced to 18 years, Moore was found guilty of a crime committed in 2005. Having spent nearly a decade behind bars, Moore continues to vehemently profess his innocence.
A recently published article by The Guardian discloses that Moore’s enthusiasts have plans to present new evidence this week. They aim to prompt the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), the agency accountable for overseeing misjudgments in the justice system, to revise Moore’s case. An organized gathering to show support for Moore is scheduled for this Wednesday, set to take place outside 10 Downing Street.
Darby’s life was brutally ended in a pub vehicle parking area in east London, back in August 2005. Despite being convicted for the heinous act, Moore attributed the wrongdoing to Martin Power, a known associate. Moore, who is now 53, has always staunchly maintained that he himself was not present at the parking lot at the time of the murder. Asserting his innocence, he suggested that he stayed within his vehicle and pinned the blame squarely on Power. Moreover, Moore asserted that he had been threatened by Darby, who allegedly owed him money and was involved in drug use.
Consequent to the crime, both Power and Moore absconded from the UK. The duo took refuge in Spain. Power was apprehended in 2013, several years after the incident, and was extradited to the UK. Moore, on the other hand, sought refuge in Dubai prior to voluntarily returning to the UK in an attempt to vindicate himself in 2012. Post trial, however, the charges against Power were dismissed, while Moore was sentenced to 18 years of incarceration for his role in Darby’s murder.
Supporters Point Out Inconsistencies in Eye-Witness Testimony
Moore, who amassed wealth as a gambler, had a past record of being convicted on fraud charges. Interestingly, none of his previous track records associated him with any violent criminal conduct. During an interview with The Guardian, conducted at HMP Oakwood, Moore voiced his stance, saying, “Whenever I have discussions with probation, I decline to undertake their courses. I simply reaffirm my innocence.”
This isn’t the first occasion wherein attempts have been made to re-examine Moore’s case. In 2021, the CCRC decided against reinstating the case to the court of appeal. Supporters of Moore, including Darby’s older brother, Tim Darby, continue to contest his conviction, pointing out potential discrepancies in the testimony of witnesses. The evidence speculated to be presented to the CCRC allegedly includes a contention that the lone witness who singled out Moore was intoxicated at the time of the crime.
The aforementioned eye-witness already accepted on record that he was intoxicated at the time of the crime. He mentioned that the crime happened too quickly. Although he failed to initially recognize Moore from a lineup, he managed to do so eight years later. Despite the witness confessing that he was under the influence of alcohol during the incident, this crucial information did not surface during Moore’s trial.
